I eventually got a hand pin drill but lacking a vice found it hard going to get them to stay still as I drilled. An early attempt involved sellotaping to a chair leg but that was too clumsy. Yesterday I managed to perfect a primitive technique involving jamming them in the corner of a drawer as a vice
and drilling out the necks having cut their heads off first. It worked but there must be a better way...
Replacement heads were added,undercoat of pva applied and painting begun. They are an approximation of 1910 Danish/ Tradgardland Infantry, close enough to keep me happy if not the purist. I will post pictures of the finished twelve man unit. All in all an enjoyable hobby session.
Lovely figures - they had nice big bases to stop the falling over so easily!
ReplyDeleteA little desk mountable vice might do the job? (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-VC17-Pivoting-Multi-Angle-Capacity/dp/B000LFTOHY/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=modelling+vice&qid=1585723285&sr=8-5)
I have just ordered one, thanks for the link. A tad safer and more sensible than the drawer!
DeleteHa Ha ! have used the jammed draw method as well !
ReplyDeleteGlad I am not alone in my daftness.
DeleteYup vise beats drawer by a hair based on experience and dremel (or equiv) beats hand drill. On my list though is a push hand drill vs a twist drill like my old ones. I got a chance to use someone else's a few years ago and was surprised how much easier it was.
ReplyDeleteGood to see these old friends. My very first set of guards (and we are talking maybe 5?) were some cheap fellows on oval bases with black hats and pants and that's it but these Crescent Guards followed a year or two later. They fell victim to my new teenage hobby of converting Toy soldiers into Model soldiers but bits of some of them are still floating around.
Nostalgia indeed.
DeleteSpirited conversions, I look forward to seeing them painted up. Bonus - you still have a pile of useful busby heads for repairs and further conversions.
ReplyDeleteI am keeping the busby heads, you just never know when they might come in handy...
DeleteNeat conversions.
ReplyDeleteI have a desk mountable vice if needed, I usually forget I have it till after I make a small hole in a finger with my hand drill - one reason I rarely use an electric drill for hobby work :)
Thanks, vice is in the post. I am looking forward to seeing how much of a difference it makes...
ReplyDeleteSo enjoy reading other modellers experiences. Must invest in this desk mounted vice. Thanks to Al you lead and plastic fanatix
ReplyDelete